Man gets 18 months for videotaped group sex assault

A Winnipeg man has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for participating in the videotaped group sex assault of an unconscious woman.

Mark Sarte, 29, appeared in court Friday morning hoping to walk away with a conditional sentence that allows him to remain free in the community. But Queen’s Bench Associate Chief Justice William Burnett said a stint behind bars was needed for such a serious offence.

The victim was 22 at the time of the July 2004 attack and had no idea what happened until a VHS tape was given to police in 2007. A former girlfriend of one of the men involved had stumbled across the 16-minute video.

Sarte is the last of three accused to be punished. Charles Collantes was given a 30-month jail term, while Jeffrey Tongol was given a 20-month sentence.

The victim was dating Collantes at the time and had spent the night partying and drinking at a local bar with all three accused, court was told. They then returned to one of their homes later where the woman passed out.

Collantes committed the bulk of the sexual assault while Sarte and Tongol watched and operated the camera, court was told. At one point, Sarte and Tongol switched places and fondled the woman on film.

Crown attorney Cynthia Devine told court all of the men show "delight, victory and conquest" as they take turns on the woman.

"They are doing something they are clearly tremendously enjoying," said Devine.

The victim submitted a statement to the Crown in which she spoke about the long-term impact of the crime.

"She says this is the last thing she ever thought would happen to her. She says Winnipeg is a small place, that she doesn't know who knows about this," Devine said.